Someone please hit me over the head with a heavy object. Can’t believe I missed a Tiamat release, but found a “limited edition” version to download so I’ll pretend that makes up for it. It doesn’t…but at least, I have something that’s guaranteed to help me recover from Slayer’s World Painted Blood.

Kicking things off in true Tiamat style is The Temple Of The Crescent Moon, and Johan Edlund is sounding pissed off. Hoarse as I sound after a night of smoking and drinking, takloo Edlund is back with his cronies after five whole years. There are some albums you know are brilliant at first listen, and Amanethes is one of them. Sounding a good bit like all their previous albums, Tiamat take you on another long journey of fine Gothic rock/metal, always intense but never overbearing.

There’s also a slight change in direction. Not really, but there is a bit of variation. Don’t panic, this album is a great listen for all the fans, especially the older ones. Female vocals in some places, complete songs, beautiful guitar solos and the genius Johan Edlund behind it all and leading it all.

Raining Dead Angels is pure evil, Misantropolis takes you back to A Deeper Kind Of Slumber, and Amanitis is a superb instrumental. The high point of Amanethes for me is Meliae, which is on the level of Teonanacatl and Atlantis As A Lover, and is going to be on your playlist for a long time.

The songs that follow are all excellent and it doesn’t make sense for me to go into unnecessary details if you understand the essence of Tiamat. If you don’t, well, someone should hit you over the head with a heavy object.

VERDICT

Amenethes is another satisfying offering of psychedelic Gothic rock/metal from Tiamat you can sit back and listen to with a mug of chai on any Sunday morning.